Being a full time student and a professional athlete is only possible thanks to the EAP.
By Phina Newton
In September 2025, University of Melbourne student Catelyn Van Es was signed as a Development Player for the Townsville Fire in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). This was a huge accomplishment for the 20-year-old, as there are only eight teams in the league (as of the 25/26 season), and each team typically selects only two to five development players for their squad.
After a stellar 2025 BigV season for the Bulleen Boomers, where Van Es was crowned Grand Final MVP in the Championship division, she was ready for her next challenge at the Townsville Fire - the only problem being full-time study commitments, doing a Bachelor of Science, with hopes of becoming a physio in the future.
Enter the Elite Athlete Program (EAP), a longstanding University of Melbourne initiative that supports student-athletes in their sporting and academic pursuits. For Van Es, flexibility was essential, as she juggled moving to a new state and starting her basketball contract with the Fire.
"I won't be able to play basketball forever, so having somewhere to land in life after basketball is important to me. To be able to continue my studies while having the flexibility to achieve my [sporting] goals is crucial, especially at a university like UniMelb, where the coursework is of such a high standard.
It is a massive bonus to have a support system at uni while I'm playing in a completely different state. The EAP provides me with avenues to ask questions, receive support, and learn without any problems."
Being a development player doesn't mean you don't have to work as hard as the contracted players; arguably, it means you have to work harder just to keep up and also fight for opportunities to play. When an injury struck her teammate, she got the call up to travel with the team and suit up for two games on the road.
The experience served to be extra special, as she got to make her WNBL debut in front of friends and family in Geelong.
Van Es played in seven games across the season, but had the best seat in the house at every home game. Whether she was on court or not, she gained invaluable experience that will only further her basketball career.
"I've wanted to play WNBL for about 2-3 years now. Throughout my junior years, I would have never imagined I'd ever play professionally, so this is really an amazing opportunity. To be at a club like Townsville, which is so dedicated to professionalism and player development, is a great start to my career because I am surrounded and supported by great people."
Not only did Van Es juggle her training and studies, but she also made time to engage with the local Townsville community, whether it be assisting sponsors or engaging with fans; she made sure she fostered connections, all while growing the profile of the club. She was involved with running and coaching the club's junior and senior Academies, visiting schools, and assisting in the QLD Government's new initiatives, 'Ignite the Dream' and 'Pathways to Empowerment'.
This was recognised by her peers and the club; she was nominated for the 'Cygnett WNBL Community Award', which aims to recognise an athlete who has made significant contributions to the community through their time, actions and dedication. While she didn't win that award, she did win Townsville Fire's 'Club Person of the Year' award, which recognises a player who contributes and buys into the local Townsville community by volunteering their time to give back and make an impact.
"To have an opportunity like this is something I don't take lightly either, it provides me with the chance to be a role model for younger players just like myself, who have gone from watching the WNBL as a young girl to now playing in front of those just like me. This is something I'm very grateful for."
To top off what has clearly been a worthwhile and fulfilling experience, the Townsville Fire won the WNBL Grand Final series against the Perth Lynx on Sunday afternoon, making Van Es and her team WNBL Champions.
“It’s so rewarding to have achieved something so massive after juggling Uni and basketball for so long, definitely makes it all worth it! UniMelb have been a huge support during this time, which has been really helpful. It’s awesome to have staff who provide a lot of assistance while I’m away.”
What's next, you might ask? Having signed with the Kilsyth Cobras for the upcoming NBL1 season, Van Es will return to Melbourne to continue her basketball and also her studies at the University of Melbourne. The only thing left to do is get her in the UBL or intervarsity uniform!